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The PHQ-15 is a 15-item somatic symptom severity measure. Each item is rated 0-2, producing a total score of 0-30. Used as the IAPT measure for medically unexplained symptoms (MUS).
During the last 4 weeks, how much have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
Use at assessment and for ongoing monitoring when the client presents with somatic symptoms that may be contributing to or maintaining health anxiety. The PHQ-15 captures the severity of common physical symptoms and helps quantify the somatic symptom burden.
Frame as a questionnaire about physical symptoms that helps build a complete picture of the client's experience. Explain that understanding the physical symptom pattern is an important part of developing an effective treatment plan.
For clients who interpret the measure as confirmation that something is physically wrong, discuss the relationship between stress, anxiety, and somatic symptom reporting. Use the results as a springboard for psychoeducation about how anxiety amplifies bodily sensations.
The PHQ-15 does not distinguish between medically explained and medically unexplained symptoms. It should not be used to validate or invalidate the client's physical symptoms. Use alongside appropriate medical assessment to contextualise scores.
The PHQ-15 is particularly useful for clients who present primarily with somatic complaints rather than cognitive worry about health. Tracking scores over time can demonstrate the relationship between symptom perception and anxiety treatment progress, providing evidence that the cognitive-behavioural model applies to their experience.
Scores are calculated automatically when your client completes this measure (range 0–30).
Suitable for clients working with outcome-measure, somatic, mus, phq-15, validated, iapt-adsm. This tool can be used as a standalone worksheet or as part of a structured homework plan.
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